'Killas, Thrillas and Chillas' is already the 9th compilation coming out on Paris DJs. It's a big step for the label, their first excursion into Soul/Funk territories, and a first volume in the 'Foot Stompers and Freaky Soul' series, while two follow-ups are already in the plans. This compilation is litteraly all over the place, but musically very coherent. With chunks of diabolously funky breakbeats, swirls of addictive cinematic soul, bits of danceflooresque synth-heavy disco-funk, and even hybrids of Afro-latin and library grooves or hip hop rhymes, this is 21st century diffing of the first order, gathering KILLER tunes, THRILLING atmospheres and CHILL-OUT vibes!

Press Release :'Killas, Thrillas and Chillas' is already the 9th compilation coming out on Paris DJs [it was planned to be the 8th one, but 'Dis Is Reggae Soul' happened since]. It's a big step for the label, their first excursion into Soul/Funk territories, and a first volume in the 'Foot Stompers and Freaky Soul' series, while two follow-ups are already in the plans. Fantastic illustrator Ben Hito designed a new, mysterious , psychedelic artwork with something that looks like a wasp on a cross - or is it? The finished art cover was sent and published as a source of inspiration to Paris DJs' network of artists and websites, asking for tracks, as with the label's previous acclaimed compilations.

The title, 'Killas, Thrillas & Chillas', references the third and final boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 ‪in Manila‬. The frequent rhyming boast made by Ali was that the fight would be ' a killa and a thrilla and a chilla, when I get that gorilla in Manila'. With kids in boxing gloves featured on the previous compilation from the label, it also fitted the conceptual continuity Frank Zappa has always been fond of…

With 3 exclusive new tracks from Brownout (Austin, Texas), Beef Wellington (Orlando, Florida) or Shawn Lee (London, UK); 3 Paris DJs singles from Grant Phabao & RacecaR (Paris, France), The Beta Club (Coventry, UK), or The Downtown Rulers Club (Austin, Texas); and 9 picks from recently released LPs or 7 inches from Head Soundz (Los Angeles, California), J-Walk (Manchester, UK), The New Mastersounds (Leeds, UK), The Field Trips (Brooklyn, NY), The Jig (Amsterdam, Netherlands), The Mighty 388's (San Diego, California),The Putbacks (Melbourne, Australia), The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble (San Diego, California), The Gene Dudley Group (London, UK), this compilation is litteraly all over the place, but musically very coherent. With chunks of diabolously funky breakbeats, swirls of addictive cinematic soul, bits of danceflooresque synth-heavy disco-funk, and even hybrids of Afro-latin and library grooves or hip hop rhymes, this is 21st century digging of the first order, gathering KILLER tunes, THRILLING atmospheres and CHILL-OUT vibes!

TRACK-BY-TRACK INFO :

01. Brownout - If I Die Tonight (USA)

Credits :
Written and composed by Adrian M Quesada
Published by Lo Bueno Del Malo (ASCAP)

About Brownout :
An 8-piece outfit formed ten years ago by members of Grammy Award-winning Latin revival orchestra Grupo Fantasma, Brownout has evolved into a musical force all its own. After garnering their third Austin Music Award last year, the band has continued to produce music that is unflinchingly progressive, while evoking the classic influences of artists such as WAR, Cymande and Funkadelic. They've performed at events including Bonnaroo, High Sierra Music Festival, Pickathon, FFFFest, Bear Creek Music Festival, Utopia Festival and Pachanga Fest, while regularly touring the U.S. Brownout's also served as a highly in-demand backing band for artists including Prince, Daniel Johnston, GZA and Bernie Worrell. ith its latest recording, Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath, they remain true to the darkness, bombast and fuzz of Sabbath's sound, while re-imagining the music with greasy Afro-Latin horns, hypnotic percussion and psyched-out, rare-groove improv. Crushing Vinyl blog called a recent performance 'magical', while OkayPlayer wrote, 'frantic horn squeals but up against the restless rhythms of the band, paying deep respects'. Brownout has released three albums including Homenaje (Freestyle Records 2008), Aguilas & Cobras (Six Degrees 2009) and Oozy (Nat Geo 2012).

Anything to say about Paris DJs : As always, our "French connection" Djouls, Grant, Ben, etc., are holding it down curating and producing some of the dopest international sounds!

About The PutBacks :
Australia's heaviest rhythm section The PutBacks are back with a typically raw funky break on The Worm. Recorded straight to 8 tracks of tape this instrumental is what The PutBacks do best and simple production lets the music do the talking. The PutBacks have been back in the studio and will be announcing a huge new release in the coming month!

03. Beef Wellington - Moog Rock (USA)

Credits :
Written and produced by Brendan Wood
Published by Eighth Dimension Publishing (BMI Work #9078869)
Courtesy of 8DSync

Musicians : Guitars by Mike Ryan, all other instruments by Beef Wellington

About Beef Wellington :
Balancing the fine line between hip-hop and down-tempo electronica, Beef Wellington produces tracks inspired by the great jazz and funk producers of the 1970s mixed with the electronic mischief of Aphex Twin. Beef (an alias for Orlando-based producer Brendan Wood) united with Eighth Dimension for the release of Feel Fantabulous in 2001, his debut full-length for the label, and continues his explorations into electronic funk to this day.

About The Beta Club :The Beta Club is a hub of musicians and producers from all over the world, with headquarters in the UK and antennas in the US & France. 'Brassa Nova' is their scorching first single, released jointly by the Cartel Records and Paris DJs labels on may 6th, on digital and 7 inch vinyl formats. With a broad sweeping theme over busy movements, 'Brassa Nova' is a panoramic sunrise song growing in magnificence to climax. Utterly dusty while dynamically uplifting, the tune's mood covers past centuries and also present-day ceremonial. Try to imagine The Budos Band recording a song for a Steven Soderbergh or a Kim Jee Woon soundtrack with David Holmes and you're nearly there!

About Grant Phabao & RacecaR :
Chicago-born MC RacecaR & French producer Grant Phabao met at Paris DJs' studio, thanks to an introduction from hip hop activist Miska with whom the French label has been doing hip hop-themed compilations this year. They decided to try something new together. Grant Phabao had never produced any hip hop artist before. And RacecaR had never tried to write and record on afrofunk or reggae music in the past. So they planned to produce 4 new tunes together, and blend RacecaR's unmistakable flow with Phabao's unique take on deeply funky African or Jamaican grooves. 'Return Of The Dig-Fu' is the first of those four productions, boldly subtitled 'Hip Hop Meets Afrofunk', it's a 'Let's play it again' versus ' I need this for my set' kind of tune. With rhymes evoking the digger's lust for the rare groove in vinyl in inside all of us, this first single from Grant Phabao & RacecaR is an unstoppable afro-funk-hip-hop monster that should let every listener wondering what's gonna come next from the crazy minds of this smoking duo.

06. The Field Trips - Shirley (USA)

Credits :
Composed by Ron Hollerness
Recorded at Sympathetic Studios
Produced & mixed by Michael Reilly
Mastered by Steve Berson

About The Field Trips :
The Field Trips is a band with a collective foot fetish and many bad habits as well as an obsession with old recording gear and lost sounds. We try to copy the sound of old 60s era Philadelphia soul productions knowing we'll fail but hoping that the result still has integrity and is enjoyable to put on your turntable.

About The Downtown Rulers Club :
The Downtown Rulers Club tips it hat to a vast genealogy of soul music from hard-hitting JB funk, to classic Motown, and more recent neo-soul. The brainchild of Beto Martínez (guitar) of critically acclaimed Brownout and Grammy Award-winning Grupo Fantasma and Alex Chávez (vocals and B3 Hammond)—seasoned member of both the Austin and Chicago music scenes—the DRC’s stripped down approach uniquely colours contemporary soulful grooves with vintage grit and flare. Their debut EP was recorded by Martínez at his Leche House home studio and highlights his own signature "tighten-up" guitar work, Chavez’s song-writing, and features Greg Gonzales (bass), Jeremy Bruch (drums)--formerly of What Made Milwaukee Famous--and the powerhouse arrangements of the Grupo Fantasma horn section. A soulful mix of ballads, throwback grooves, and funk-inspired vamps, the EP’s four tracks are sure to please the likes of true soul music fans.

Anything to say about Paris DJs : We are huge fans of everything this collective puts out and are excited to be working together. They are great people and their work never ceases to amaze.

About The Jig :
The Jig is one of few genuine funk bands in Europe. It is an instrumental groove machine with a rock & roll-attitude, known for its powerful and exhilarating live shows. Inspired by heroes such as Bootsy Collins, Lettuce, James Brown, Average White Band en The Meters, The Jig creates its own original sound: vintage and up-to-date at the same time. Soul, Afro, Jazz and Rock & Roll are kept close. Two years after the successful album Brooklyn Blowout, which was recorded in New York, The Jig retreated to its home ground Rock Supplies in Amsterdam’s Baarsjes neighbourhood to record fresh and tasty new material in a semi-live setting. The eleven tracks on Aargh! breathe warmth, spontaneity, a hint of craziness and are highly danceable.

About The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble :
The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble is a heavy, original, instrumental soul band based in San Diego. The band features screaming Hammond Organ and vibey Wurlitzer Electric Piano, combined with soulful flute, trumpet, flugelhorn, and tenor and baritone saxes. This is the kind of soul for folks who dig Isaac Hayes, The Meters, or the 1970’s soundtrack work of Quincy Jones. The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble currently has several regular monthly gigs in San Diego and the surrounding area. Their debut full length record is due out in late 2014.

Anything to say about Paris DJs : Paris DJs have a reputation for supporting and releasing great funky/soulful music from all around the world. We consistently discover awesome new bands/producers and music through their compilations and web articles. Thanks so much for supporting the scene!

About The Gene Dudley Group :
The Gene Dudley Group represents an outpouring of deep soul and funk music from obscenely talented 27 year-old multi-instrumentalist residing in North London, Gene Dudley. This one-man band records in Gene’s bedroom studio. All his recordings feature him on an incredibly diverse range of instruments including trumpet, saxophone, drums, bass, guitar and piano as well as on homemade electronics and pedals.

About The New Mastersounds :
The New Mastersounds are a four-piece band based in Leeds, England, whose modern take on vintage soul-jazz, funk and rock draws influences from Jimmies McGriff, Smith, and Hendrix, as well as their most closely-associated mentors, The Meters. Try to imagine Grant Green and Lou Donaldson having a fight in a Hammond Organ shop while James Brown holds the coats, and you have some idea of what to expect from this band.

About The Mighty 388's :
The Mighty 388's play music inspired by the Soul Jazz/Funk/Rare Groove pioneers of the late sixties and early seventies.

Anything to say about Paris DJs : We are very grateful to Paris Dj's for being staunch supporters of the international Funk, Soul, Afrobeat, Tropical, and Rare-Groove scene.

15. Shawn Lee - Simon Says

Credits :
All instruments by Shawn Lee
Produced by Shawn Lee
Engineered by Pierre Duplan
Mixed by Pierre Duplan & Shawn Lee
Recorded & mixed at Trans-Yank studio London
Published by Da Do Bap music/ASCAP

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